While the cost of energy continues its surge, new research from Business Energy UK reveals the hidden cost of gaming. The report compares the usage of the new consoles to demonstrate the most expensive consoles to play. For game fans, the choice of console can influence their annual electricity bill quite surprisingly.
Gaming and Energy Bills: A Breakdown of Console Power Consumption
We also discovered that the Xbox Series X is not only the most powerful console. but also the most energy-hungry. And therefore the most costly to operate. On average, an Xbox Series X user can expect to pay an additional $40.28 (£60.82) on their yearly energy bill. The powerful hardware of the console, while giving the most stunning visuals and fastest load times, comes with a hefty energy price. The Xbox Series X uses 61% more energy than all other consoles on the market, according to the research.
Coming in at second place is the PlayStation 5 Pro, which, although less power-hungry than its larger competitor, still puts a hefty amount towards electricity bills. The yearly operating cost of a PlayStation 5 Pro is around $24.97 (£37.71). This is lower than the cost of the Xbox Series X but still rather pricey for avid gamers.
Cutting Costs: Revealing the Most Energy-Efficient Gaming Consoles of 2025
On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch and the OLED version of it are by far the most power-efficient. They cost just $1.61 (£2.43) per year to use, which is the lowest of all. Their lower energy consumption falls right into the player’s pocket. Without ever compromising the high-quality gaming experience Nintendo is famous for.
The research also looked at other electronics and found that high-end laptops and certain TV brands can be huge energy consumers. For example, the Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptops have really big operating costs, and among television sets, there are certain Panasonic brands that use a lot more power than efficient brands like Roku.
In summary, the study indicates that the convenience of the modern electronics comes at a cost. Gamers on a tight budget can make do with Nintendo Switch. While the personal cost savings might be small, using equipment that is more energy-efficient can translate into huge savings in residential utility bills over the long term. It also urges the manufacturers to design products that are not just robust but eco-friendly too.
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